School costs worry Rochester town officials

ROCHESTER — Rising schools costs have town officials worried as they begin the budget process for the 2015 fiscal year.

MICHAEL J. DECICCO

ROCHESTER — Rising schools costs have town officials worried as they begin the budget process for the 2015 fiscal year.

In his first meeting with selectmen on next year's budget projections, Town Administrator Richard LaCamera said his biggest concern is over the local and regional school department budget increases.

For FY2015, the Old Rochester Regional School District is asking the town for a $290,000 increase and the Rochester Memorial School is seeking a $254,000 boost.

"I know there is no way we can afford to fund that," LaCamera said at last week's meeting.

He said the region's three town administrators, selectmen and Finance Committees met with School Superintendent Doug White to express their budget concerns.

"The superintendent said he is concerned, too," LaCamera said. "But the decision making will be up to the School Committee."

LaCamera said White was told not to wait for state aid projections to come in. "We need to know now what we are dealing with."

He also said if a Proposition 2 1/2 override is needed, officials need time to plan for it as soon as possible.

LaCamera said the next step will be a meeting between town officials and the ORR Budget Subcommittee on Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. A meeting with the Rochester Memorial School Budget Subcommittee is also being planned but a date has not yet been set.